Ending homelessness one person at a time
Central is an integral part of a sweeping statewide movement
January 22, 2012 — “Love of neighbor is one of the core values of Christians and other religious people all over the world. To work with those most in need in our community is, for me, the ultimate expression of our faith,” said Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer, Central’s director of community ministries.
Since its beginning in 1919, Central Lutheran Church has been caring for its neighbors in downtown Minneapolis. “Today,” said Rolf, “a lot of our neighbors are homeless and we, as a congregation, are investing significant time and resources to serve the homeless and to put an end to homelessness.”
Rolf said that Central is a “pivotal player in a movement that has swept across the state,” noting that all counties in Minnesota now have a plan in place to end homelessness, as part of Heading Home Minnesota, an unprecedented, statewide, public/private initiative. The effort directly impacting downtown Minneapolis—Heading Home Hennepin—plans to end homelessness in the county by 2016.
“All of this is the approach of a whole community—cities, counties, nonprofits, businesses, congregations and individuals,” said Rolf. “This takes a whole community and the time is now.”
Many, working together in many ways
Specifically, Central is involved in serving the homeless and working to end homelessness in these ways:
The Restoration Center, the core of Central’s community ministries, offers employment counseling, spiritual care, a free store with clothing and other household items, health screening (through the Augsburg Central Health Commons, a collaboration with Augsburg College), a free Monday lunch and financial assistance. In just the past few weeks, financial assistance provided by Central has either prevented or ended homelessness for 23 families or individuals. One person at a time.
The Heading Home Central Ministry Team engages Central members and friends in various educational and advocacy efforts around the issues of poverty and homelessness. Their current work includes “A Journey Toward Justice,” a parish-wide effort inviting participation in five advocacy areas (out of many options) aimed at ending homelessness. When 75 persons have completed their five efforts—as tracked on a large “game board,” a significant challenge gift will be released to boost efforts to end homelessness. Progress toward the release of the gift will be reported in conjunction with a weekly factoid about homelessness in The Spirit, as provided by the Heading Home Central Team.
They also present and staff the “Take Five Table,” providing information about legislation and other issues in the statewide effort to end homelessness.
Central is a founding member of Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness (DCEH), a collaboration of Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and protestant Christian congregations. Rolf calls DCEH the “faith arm” of the Heading Home Hennepin effort. In 2011 DCEH partnered with the Minneapolis Downtown Council to raise $130,000 (in a matter of days) to hire case workers to help move 150 persons out of homelessness into permanent housing. Central’s ongoing support of the organization includes in-kind gifts of free office space and printing services.
Central is a member of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) and will be a sponsor of JLRC’s 2012 “Day on the Hill,” which brings citizens to the State Capitol to lobby lawmakers about issues of poverty, justice and homelessness.
And, Central is also a sponsor of Project Homeless Connect, a massive twice-yearly gathering at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Sponsored by the City/County Office to End Homelessness, the event tpyically brings together more than 1,000 trained volunteers who escort an even greater number of homeless and poor persons through the services of dozens of providers—legal, health-related and many more.
Speaking both of the organizations that Central collaborates with, which also includes St. Stephen’s Human Services, and the clients served, Rolf said “it’s all about relationships.”
“For a community to be healthy, people need to relate to each other. Our work around the issues of poverty and homelessness is relational and incarnational—as staff, volunteers and guests relate to each other on many levels—loving each other and God, serving each other and God,” he said.
Pastor Rick Nelson said this activity is “one among many that is making a difference in the world Christ died to save—one life at a time.”
“Our work alongside of many on behalf of the homeless is a compelling example of faith active in love—hands, heart, feet—resources of the faithful in action. It is the right thing to do—it is what Jesus would do! And, it enriches and blesses the lives and faith of those engaged in this issue,” said Pastor Rick.
Central is an integral part of a sweeping statewide movement
by Joe Bjordal
January 22, 2012 — “Love of neighbor is one of the core values of Christians and other religious people all over the world. To work with those most in need in our community is, for me, the ultimate expression of our faith,” said Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer, Central’s director of community ministries.
Since its beginning in 1919, Central Lutheran Church has been caring for its neighbors in downtown Minneapolis. “Today,” said Rolf, “a lot of our neighbors are homeless and we, as a congregation, are investing significant time and resources to serve the homeless and to put an end to homelessness.”
Rolf said that Central is a “pivotal player in a movement that has swept across the state,” noting that all counties in Minnesota now have a plan in place to end homelessness, as part of Heading Home Minnesota, an unprecedented, statewide, public/private initiative. The effort directly impacting downtown Minneapolis—Heading Home Hennepin—plans to end homelessness in the county by 2016.
“All of this is the approach of a whole community—cities, counties, nonprofits, businesses, congregations and individuals,” said Rolf. “This takes a whole community and the time is now.”
Many, working together in many ways
Specifically, Central is involved in serving the homeless and working to end homelessness in these ways:
The Restoration Center, the core of Central’s community ministries, offers employment counseling, spiritual care, a free store with clothing and other household items, health screening (through the Augsburg Central Health Commons, a collaboration with Augsburg College), a free Monday lunch and financial assistance. In just the past few weeks, financial assistance provided by Central has either prevented or ended homelessness for 23 families or individuals. One person at a time.
The Heading Home Central Ministry Team engages Central members and friends in various educational and advocacy efforts around the issues of poverty and homelessness. Their current work includes “A Journey Toward Justice,” a parish-wide effort inviting participation in five advocacy areas (out of many options) aimed at ending homelessness. When 75 persons have completed their five efforts—as tracked on a large “game board,” a significant challenge gift will be released to boost efforts to end homelessness. Progress toward the release of the gift will be reported in conjunction with a weekly factoid about homelessness in The Spirit, as provided by the Heading Home Central Team.
They also present and staff the “Take Five Table,” providing information about legislation and other issues in the statewide effort to end homelessness.
Central is a founding member of Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness (DCEH), a collaboration of Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and protestant Christian congregations. Rolf calls DCEH the “faith arm” of the Heading Home Hennepin effort. In 2011 DCEH partnered with the Minneapolis Downtown Council to raise $130,000 (in a matter of days) to hire case workers to help move 150 persons out of homelessness into permanent housing. Central’s ongoing support of the organization includes in-kind gifts of free office space and printing services.
Central is a member of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) and will be a sponsor of JLRC’s 2012 “Day on the Hill,” which brings citizens to the State Capitol to lobby lawmakers about issues of poverty, justice and homelessness.
And, Central is also a sponsor of Project Homeless Connect, a massive twice-yearly gathering at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Sponsored by the City/County Office to End Homelessness, the event tpyically brings together more than 1,000 trained volunteers who escort an even greater number of homeless and poor persons through the services of dozens of providers—legal, health-related and many more.
Speaking both of the organizations that Central collaborates with, which also includes St. Stephen’s Human Services, and the clients served, Rolf said “it’s all about relationships.”
“For a community to be healthy, people need to relate to each other. Our work around the issues of poverty and homelessness is relational and incarnational—as staff, volunteers and guests relate to each other on many levels—loving each other and God, serving each other and God,” he said.
Pastor Rick Nelson said this activity is “one among many that is making a difference in the world Christ died to save—one life at a time.”
“Our work alongside of many on behalf of the homeless is a compelling example of faith active in love—hands, heart, feet—resources of the faithful in action. It is the right thing to do—it is what Jesus would do! And, it enriches and blesses the lives and faith of those engaged in this issue,” said Pastor Rick.
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